Will River Road be ready for Des Plaines casino opening?

Des Plaines city officials say they are optimistic the portion of River Road near the site of a proposed casino will be rebuilt before the casino's opening in spring 2011.

The casino is targeted for more than 20 acres fronting the Tri-State Tollway at the northwest corner of Devon Avenue and River Road.

Total reconstruction of the roughly 4-mile stretch of River Road between Rand Road and Devon Avenue wasn't expected to begin until early 2011.

The project calls for raising River Road roughly two feet to act as a buffer against the Des Plaines River, and widened it to five lanes between Touhy Avenue and Devon Avenue.

Des Plaines city leaders and a representative of casino developer Midwest Gaming & Entertainment met with Illinois Department of Transportation officials this week to request a speedier construction timeline.

"IDOT seemed receptive," Des Plaines City Manager Jason Bajor said. "No promises were made, but there was a positive spirit of cooperation."

City officials asked the state to begin work first on the intersection of River Road and Devon Avenue, continuing north to Touhy Avenue before the 2011 target date.

"We're looking at scenarios (for construction) to go all the way up to where Interstate 294 crosses with River Road, as far north as where the casino development is by 2011. Then everything else can be done later," Bajor said. "It wouldn't be perfect. It would certainly address the immediate concerns."

The good news is the nearly $43 million River Road reconstruction project is included in the state's $11.25 billion five-year road improvement plan.

Yet, IDOT has said funding for key infrastructure projects hinges on the governor signing the state's nearly $29 billion construction spending plan approved by lawmakers.

Des Plaines also is awaiting word on whether it will get more than $5 million from the state for stormwater improvements, street rehabilitation, sidewalk and curb replacement projects.

"I think the spirit is to get this done," Bajor said. "There's a lot of competing interests down in Springfield. All of these projects, all of this funding hinges on this capital bill. If the bill passes, we should be recipients of some significant funding."

This spring, the state will be resurfacing River Road from south of Touhy Avenue to Devon Avenue as a short-term cure to its deteriorating condition.